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Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Cancer & Tumors

Gene expression in human breast epithelial cells exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields

No Effects Found

Authors not listed · 1999

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60 Hz magnetic fields showed no effect on breast cancer genes despite testing at very high exposure levels.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human breast cells to 60 Hz magnetic fields at various strengths (0.1 to 10 Gauss) for up to 24 hours to test whether power line frequencies could trigger cancer-related gene changes. The study found no significant effects on cancer-associated genes including c-myc, p53, and others, suggesting 60 Hz EMF is unlikely to promote breast cancer through direct gene expression changes.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale
Cite This Study
Unknown (1999). Gene expression in human breast epithelial cells exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields.
Show BibTeX
@article{gene_expression_in_human_breast_epithelial_cells_exposed_to_60_hz_magnetic_fields_ce4116,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Gene expression in human breast epithelial cells exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields},
  year = {1999},
  doi = {10.1093/CARCIN/20.8.1633},
  
}
DOI: 10.1093/CARCIN/20.8.1633PubMed: 10426819

Quick Questions About This Study

No, this study found no statistically significant changes in cancer-related genes including c-myc, p53, p21, and others in human breast cells exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields for periods up to 24 hours.
Researchers tested 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 Gauss magnetic field exposures. For comparison, typical household EMF levels are thousands of times lower, usually measuring 1-4 milligauss near common appliances.
No, the study found no effect on basal c-myc transcript levels in either normal mammary cells or HBL-100 breast cells, even when cells were chemically stimulated during EMF exposure.
No, important tumor suppressor genes including p53, p21, GADD45, and cell death regulators like bax and bcl-x showed no changes after 60 Hz magnetic field exposure in this study.
Exposure periods ranged from 20 minutes to 24 hours using pure, linearly polarized 60 Hz EMF with low harmonic distortion. Control cells were exposed only to ambient fields below 0.001 Gauss.